New COVID-19 cases in PA showed the smallest daily rise in nearly two weeks, as the state health department reported 1,146 new positive cases today.
That figure represents the fewest number of new daily cases since April 1, when 962 new cases were reported. Last week, new cases approached 2,000 for several straight days.
Since the pandemic began in early March, the PA Department of Health has recorded a total of 25,345 positive cases.
“COVID-19 cases and deaths continue to rise in Pennsylvania, and even though the daily increases are not exponential, now is not the time to become complacent,” said state Secretary of Health Rachel Levine.
The department also reported that another 60 residents have died from the disease, bringing the fatality total to 584 Pennsylvanians.
Locally, Dauphin County has five fatalities and Cumberland County has four, one more than yesterday in both counties. Lancaster County now has reported 26 deaths from the disease, two more than yesterday. Deaths in other midstate counties were unchanged: three in York County, two in Lebanon County and one each in Perry and Adams counties.
The virus has spread to all of Pennsylvania’s 67 counties.
Locally, Dauphin County now has 249 confirmed cases, nine more than yesterday. Cumberland County has 124 cases, two more than yesterday. Lancaster County has 865 cases, York County has 371 cases, Lebanon County has 328 cases, Adams County has 63 cases and Perry County has 17 cases.
Philadelphia County continues to have the most confirmed cases statewide with 7,121 cases, followed by Montgomery County with 2,354 cases. The two counties also have reported the most deaths from the disease: 131 and 76, respectively.
Statewide, 133,631 coronavirus tests have been performed, with 108,286 people testing negative, according to the state health department. Yesterday, the state reported that 129,792 people had been tested for the virus.
Of the patients who have tested positive to date, the age breakdown is as follows, according to the health department:
- Less than 1 percent are aged 0-4
- Nearly 1 percent are aged 5-12
- 1 percent are aged 13-18
- Nearly 7 percent are aged 19-24
- Nearly 40 percent are aged 25-49
- Nearly 29 percent are aged 50-64
- 22 percent are aged 65 or older.
Most of the patients hospitalized are 65 or older, as are most of the reported deaths, according to the state. There have been no pediatric deaths to date.
“We must continue to stay home to protect ourselves, our families, our community,” Levine said. “If you must go out, please make as few trips as possible and wear a mask to protect not only yourself, but other people as well. We need all Pennsylvanians to continue to heed these efforts to protect our vulnerable Pennsylvanians, our health care workers and frontline responders.”
Levine continued to emphasize that Pennsylvanians should do the following:
- Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or use hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available.
- Cover any coughs or sneezes with your elbow, not your hands.
- Clean surfaces frequently.
- Stay home to avoid spreading COVID-19, especially if you are unwell.
For more information, visit the PA Department of Health’s COVID-19 website.
